Protests "Encouraging and Aiding the Enemy" -- what a crock!!

[Sparkly]

Why do rightwingers think every expression of dissent is "aiding the enemy" and "encouraging jihadists?"

A troll recently said the vigil in Crawford is aiding the enemy.

When Clark said the elections weren't the end of the problems in Iraq, Scarborough said he was aiding the enemy.

When VVAW protested Vietnam, it was said they were aiding the enemy.

Do these people REALLY believe "the enemy" gets enraged and fired up when they hear there are people in the US who disagree with our government? Do they believe that the slogan "They hate us for our freedoms" means exercising our freedoms enrages them?

Does it EVER occur to them that perhaps it's an unnecessary, unplanned, mismanaged, reckless, stupid WAR that's enraging and encouraging "the enemy?" Does it EVER occur to them that leaving munitions unguarded, leaving our troops ill-equipped, leaving the borders unsecure and losing allies "aids" the enemy?

[NorCalDem]

1. This is why...

"Naturally, the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY."

--Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials

[Ron Green]

2. I heard that creepy Strangelovian character Charles Krauthammer

say the same thing last night on FAUX news channel. Their bottom-line, fundamental talking point is that America has clearly-defined "enemies," and that anything one says against this administration somehow helps them.

[sam sarrha]

3. NEVER forget that the Enemy they fear most is the TRUTH..!!!!

[lala_rawraw]

4. They are right, if they are talking about the Bush admin

[TNOE]

5. Some caller said that this morning on C-SPAN

Guest said - I think they insurgents are doing plenty of that all by themselves - pretty good answer (paraphrased).

[Crankie Avalon]

6. Plaid Adder explained this very well...

...it's because they think that if everyone "claps their hands at once and says 'yes'" to the war, that somehow the war will be won, no matter what is actually happening on the ground.

Recommended read if you haven't seen it, yet: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4376183&mesg_id=4376183

[anarch]

7. "not voting Republican" = encouraging and aiding the enemy

as far as these people are concerned...

This is what comes of neglecting to really educate in our public schools. Especially on points of history, and with the long-forsaken civics class. These people have no real understanding of the principles upon which this nation was founded.

Now what you get, instead of what I see as the true promise of America (including healthy dissent and real democracy), is a bunch of ignorant zealots screaming "you're a traitor! you don't support the president during war-time! Love it or leave it! If you don't like it here, move to Cuba. Or Iran."

[sui generis]

8. I have a question

When someone says it's aiding the enemy, ask how.

Inform them they are free to use english, bibliographic references, sign language, interpretive dance, morse code, or etch a sketch to back up their statements, however just "saying" it doesn't make it so.

Then wait for them to implode.

How does it aid the enemy. You hit it dead on Sparkly - right on the head. The enemy isn't sitting there paying masturbatory attention to our internal strife with our government's policies.

They are paying attention to what our government is doing in their "homeland", and "Homelands" like theirs. Of course they hate us. We lie to go to war. We make up reasons for being there after we invade. We destabilize their economies and social structure for generations to come. We kill their children with "collateral damage", shoot up their weddings, and torture and rape their countrymen for our entertainment, with impunity.

There is no "aid and comfort" that Cindy Sheehan or any American can give them.

[libhill]

9. How 'bout

Prisoner abuse and torture incidents? Total disregard for the Geneva Convention? Nah, that couldn't have anything to do with it, could it? Those ass hats are totally out of touch with reality.

[Sparkly]

11. Right. The script in their heads must be...

Terrorist: "I just don't feel like blowing up any American soldiers today. I have a sense of existential angst, a philosophical ennui, and... What? There's a mother asking to speak to the president in the US? People disagree with the war? Well then -- what are we waiting for? Let's go build an IED!!"

[libhill]

12. LOL

Well said - and funny, too :)

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. They lost the moral high ground when they didn't support Clinton

in the 90s when he tried to go after bin Laden. Remember the criticism of sending a $60,000 missile to hit a tent? I think it's time to dig up those articles so we can see what they said and who said it.

[Toots]

13. Ask how this is aiding the Republicans.

The enemy to America is the Republicans who hate us for our Freedoms.

[bribri16]

14. Bush has done more to "aid" the enemy than anyone else in this

world.

[Syncronaut Seven]

15. No, alchohol pickled coke monkeys usingthe presidential podium to

challenge "bring it on" are encouraging the "enemy". 99 out of every 100 world citizens agree,* is the biggest promoter of terrorism on the planet.